Some foreigners dreamed of living in Paris, and later they became disillusioned –because of the (hot) roofs.
[From Challenges, 10 August 2024] In summer, living in Paris can quickly become unbearable. Indeed, the Haussmannian roofs transform the homes into a veritable oven. Foreigners who dreamed of settling in the capital are disappointed when they are confronted with the intense heat. Explanations.
Paris is a dream in more ways than one. Many people hope to live there. Among foreigners in particular, the idea of living in the city of love and its typical Haussmannian buildings is more than present. But some who have taken the plunge are disillusioned. In summer , the heat that envelops the capital surprises some uninitiated people. The charm of the old buildings then turns into a real nightmare for some. On the top floor, under the roofs , it is a real furnace , reports BFMTV , on August 10, 2024. Contacted by the continuous news channel, Franck Lirzin, author of the book Paris facing climate change, explains that "the Haussmannian building has a fragility: its zinc tile roofs that were designed in the 1850s . "
If zinc was chosen at the time, it was because it was a material that, in addition to being light and malleable , was above all economical . Franck Lirzin indicates that this option made it possible to "imitate the lead roofs of the capital's luxury buildings" without breaking the bank. The problem is that zinc is likely to raise the temperature. Nicolas Procino, manager of the company Artizinc, is well aware of this problem. He regularly intervenes to renovate Parisian roofs. Interviewed by BFMTV , he assures that this metallic material "can go up to 50-60°C" .
A “new form of poor housing”
Met by the news channel, Elea confirms. This Kazakhstani dreamed of moving to Paris. Upon arriving in the French capital, she chose to live in a Haussmannian building in the 15th arrondissement. When she moved in, she was delighted with her small balcony and the brightness of her studio under the roof. However, when summer came, she was disillusioned. Her small apartment turned into an oven . "I didn't expect it to be so hot in Paris ," she assures, wondering about the poor insulation of housing in a city like Paris.
The problem is not new. Many people are sounding the alarm, particularly in light of global warming , which is making the experience increasingly unbearable. In 2023, the Abbé Pierre Foundation warned of this “new form of poor housing” . The phrase “in summer, energy sieves turn into kettles” perfectly describes the daily lives of the inhabitants of these attic dwellings when the high temperatures return.
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